Sleeping Giant is dedicated to providing pertinent facts and the latest research and insight into the large and growing Asian Pacific American community. Sleeping Giant is produced by Imprenta Communications Group.

Eight out of 10 uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders may be eligible for Medicaid, CHIP or tax credits in the Health Insurance Marketplace

Eight out of 10 uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders may be eligible for Medicaid, CHIP or tax credits in the Health Insurance MarketplaceEighty-nine percent of uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders could qualify for lower costs on coverage if all states expanded Medicaid

According to a new report released today by HHS, 8 out of 10 (1.6 million) uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) may be eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and could qualify for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or tax credits to help with the cost of premiums. If all states took advantage of new opportunities to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, 89 percent of uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who may be eligible for the Marketplace might qualify for Medicaid, the CHIP, or tax credits to help with the cost of health insurance premiums.

“The health care law is working to address long standing disparities in access to health care that have affected minority communities,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 1.9 million uninsured Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have new options to obtain quality, affordable health care coverage through the Marketplace.“

Today’s report also details uninsurance rates by state and provides several examples of what premiums might look like for AANHPI’s living in major metropolitan areas. More than half of uninsured AANHPI citizens and others lawfully residing in the U.S. live in California, Texas, and New York. A 27-year-old in San Francisco with an income of $25,000 can pay as little as $21 a month for a bronze plan after applying the tax credit, while a family of four with an income of $50,000 could pay zero for a bronze plan after applying the tax credit.

Nationwide, about 798,000 uninsured AANHPI’s may be eligible for coverage through Medicaid or the CHIP.

States have new opportunities to expand Medicaid coverage to include Americans with family incomes at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (generally $31,322 for a family of four in 2013). This expansion includes adults without dependent children living at home, who have not previously been eligible in most states.

Leave a Response

Sleeping Giant is produced by Imprenta Communications Group, a California-based, award-winning public affairs, ethnic marketing, and campaign firm which specializes in reaching California's diverse audiences.

Imprenta was founded in 2001 by Ronald W. Wong, a political and communications strategist with more than 30 years of experience in marketing and political campaigns targeting Asian Pacific and Latino Americans. Ron has worked for Fortune 500 companies, served as Chief Deputy Appointments Secretary to Governor Gray Davis and in President Bill Clinton's Administration at the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Services.

Imprenta was recently awarded the 2013 Asian Business Advocacy Award from the Los Angeles Business Journal, citing the company's "radical success and growth."

We develop and execute campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, candidates, causes, and initiatives that demand and expect to win. For the past 15 years, Imprenta has delivered measurable and quantifiable results for regulated companies, utilities, telecommunications, health care corporations, Foundations, major ballot initiatives, candidates for elected office, and public education campaigns for government entities. Imprenta specializes in reaching diverse underserved communities -- we understand the cultural and linguistic nuances that exist throughout our state.

"Imprenta will go above and beyond to win for its clients. As our nation becomes more and more diverse, ethnic communities, consumers and voters will be critical to anyone interested in shaping public opinion, running for office, or marketing goods and services. We speak the language of America."